May Reads: Throwing Out the Rule Book

Hello All!  I can't believe tomorrow is May. I think we can all agree March was never-ending, and April went by so quickly I'm shocked. As always in times of stress for myself, I turn to books. It's usually a sure bet for me. But I learned one thing in the past 6 weeks: I cannot make myself read whatever comes my way. There have been times in my life where I definitely avoided certain books, or put a book down and never returned to it because I was reading it when something significant happened. I'm afraid that's already happened to me in the past month. 

One such book was my much anticipated read of Alma Katsu's The Deep. Oh, I couldn't wait to dig into it. But dammit all, I tried for weeks to read it and I just couldn't do it. I am so bummed. It was not my only book casualty of the past few months. I spent a few sleepless nights pondering the irony of not being able to focus long enough to read when it was usually the only thing that kept me on a even keel when I was feeling a bit low or anxious. I'm not a super anxious person, but certainly we can all get the anxiety that has filtered into our brains and emotions. I'm still trying to grasp the fact that I am anxious with the unknown, and thinking of all the things I looked forward to in the next year that just aren't going to happen. I guess it's grief, when all is said and done. I am thankful my close family and friends remain healthy, but I do know people who have been affected by the pandemic. I have a niece who just finished her degree in December. She's a new nurse who just started her first big job in critical care in February. I have a brother-in-law who lost his brother to Covid-19. I have friends who are unemployed. But we carry on, right? It will get better. Of that I am sure. I count my blessings. 

So one of my sleepless nights gave me a revelation: I'm going to read whatever the heck I want. Whatever sounds good, whatever keeps my attention. I'm tossing out my goals of reading certain books and hitting a certain number. I just don't care. I predict my summer will be full of reads about faraway places, romance, friendships, probably a few mysteries in quaint little towns, and who knows what else. I'll be returning to my back deck to do some videos and talk about what I'm reading, and whatever comes to mind. 

Here are a few titles I hope to finish this month:

This isn't out until August. However, I'm loving it as an ARC. For foodies and happily ever afters. 

Gothic! Sure. Sign me up. Family secrets, scary mansion. Brave woman. 

Love Phaedra Patrick's novels. This one is about love lost and found, a romantic bridge, and a message left behind. 

Twin sisters live very different lives and racial identities. What happens when two worlds collide?

Historical fiction set in China, 1937. Students must walk across the country with a priceless treasure: a collection of myths and legends they must keep safe from the invading Japanese. Chinese magic and mythology! 

Well. I hope this month's reading hits the right spot for me. I hope you are all safe, healthy, and taking care of yourself in whatever way you need to. I'm planning on time in my yard, planting lots of happy flowers, reading on my deck, and hopefully exploring some of the trails around my city on my bike. Finding a new sense of normal and taking one step forward at a time. 

Sending big hugs and lots of sunshine wherever you are--

The Bookalicious Babe